13 suspected al-Qaeda militants killed in Yemen air strikeApril 19, 2014 - 19:17 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - An air strike killed at least 13 suspected al-Qaeda militants in central Yemen on Saturday, April 19 security officials said, according to BBC News. The strike in the province of al-Bayda targeted vehicles the insurgents were travelling in at the time. Some reports say three civilians in another car were also killed. The exact nature of the strike is unclear, but the U.S. has launched several drone attacks on militants in Yemen in the past. Al-Bayda has seen serious security incidents recently, and earlier this week suspected al-Qaeda militants shot dead the deputy governor as he was leaving his home. Yemen's Defence Ministry website quoted a security source as saying a number of "terrorists" had been killed in the air strike. "An air strike targeted cars that suspected al-Qaeda militants were in and killed 13 of them in the Sawma'a area of al-Bayda," a security source told Reuters. The U.S. has stepped up drone strikes as part of a campaign against al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), which is based in Yemen. Yemen is among a handful of countries where the U.S. acknowledges using drones, although it does not comment on the practice. Last month, Yemen's President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi defended the use of drones in the country, saying they "have greatly helped in limiting Al-Qaeda activities, despite some mistakes, which we are sorry about." The drone programme has come under criticism from human rights activists concerned over civilian casualties. The United Nations said 16 civilians were killed and at least 10 wounded when two separate wedding processions were targeted in December. Local security officials said the party had been mistakenly identified as al-Qaeda members. Following the deaths, Yemen's parliament voted for a ban on drone strikes, but analysts say lawmakers are unlikely to be able to halt the U.S. campaign. AQAP is considered to be the most dangerous branch of al-Qaeda in the world and it overran much of Yemen's south in 2011. A video posted online earlier this week purported to show AQAP leader Nasser al-Wuhayshi addressing more than 100 members of the group at a mountainous location in al-Bayda. In the film, thought to have been shot near the border with Shabwa province, al-Wuhayshi pledges to pursue the war against Western "crusaders." Photo: RT Related links: Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. Armenia: Defense Ministry warns against involving army in political processes The Ministry’s statement came after a video surfaced online, showing soldiers joining the protests in Tavush. Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year. Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. |